JEFFERSON CITY — Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon asked
Missouri senators to put a halt to their discussion about
tax credit reform.The halt could push forward an economic development bill, Nixon said
during a panel with the Missouri Press Association on Thursday.

"I think there's going to be a thorough and proper discussion about
the efficacy of tax credits as economic development tools," Nixon said.
"I do think I would like, if at all possible, for the Senate to take a
week off from that discussion and go ahead and pass the bill that the
House gave them."

The bill under consideration is geared toward providing tax credits
to businesses that create new jobs under the Quality Jobs Act. It would
also increase the cap on state-sponsored tax credits from $60 million
to $120 million.

The bill's Republican sponsor in the Senate has said the measure
could create up to 30,000 jobs in Missouri, but other GOP senators are
questioning the accuracy of that figure.

President Pro Tem Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, said he doubts that
discussion will be put aside but that the bill may still be passed by
mid-March.

"I'm absolutely confident we'll get it done, and it (the job
creation bill and tax credit reform) will go together," he said. "I
don't think we can separate those two issues."

State Rep. Steve Hobbs, R-Mexico, said Missouri's economic development is
limited to tax credits because the Missouri Constitution prohibits more
direct forms of government-funded incentives for businesses.

"I don't think anyone's talking about limiting tax credits," Hobbs
said, adding that it is a "dangerous time" to put a cap on one of the
state's few resources for stimulating economic growth.